All participants must be local residents or attend school in Chula Vista and must pass a background check.

Gaines said it’s important for the department to offer this opportunity to teens.

“For one thing it’s outreach,” she said. “We love to be involved with the community and give opportunities for them to get to know their local law enforcement. The police department’s relationship with youth in particular a lot of times is that youth have a negative perception of law enforcement. It gives them a real in depth look at what we do and why we do it.”

Classes are held at the police department located at 315 Fourth Ave. and meets on Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Each year evaluations are conducted and adjustments are made based on the popularity or dislike of the classes, according to Gaines.